AMD Phenom II X4 975 BE vs Intel Core i7-950

Comparative analysis of AMD Phenom II X4 975 BE and Intel Core i7-950 processors for all known characteristics in the following categories: Essentials, Performance, Memory, Compatibility, Security & Reliability, Advanced Technologies, Virtualization. Benchmark processor performance analysis: PassMark - Single thread mark, PassMark - CPU mark, Geekbench 4 - Single Core, Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core, CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s), CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s), 3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score, CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s), CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s), CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s).

AMD Phenom II X4 975 BE

Intel Core i7-950

Differences

Reasons to consider the AMD Phenom II X4 975 BE

CPU is newer: launch date 1 year(s) 7 month(s) later
Processor is unlocked, an unlocked multiplier allows for easier overclocking
Around 8% higher clock speed: 3.6 GHz vs 3.33 GHz
2x more L1 cache, more data can be stored in the L1 cache for quick access later
2x more L2 cache, more data can be stored in the L2 cache for quick access later
Around 4% lower typical power consumption: 125 Watt vs 130 Watt
2.7x better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s): 2.787 vs 1.028

Specifications (specs)
Launch date	January 2011 vs June 2009
Unlocked	Unlocked vs Locked
Maximum frequency	3.6 GHz vs 3.33 GHz
L1 cache	512 KB vs 64 KB (per core)
L2 cache	2 MB vs 256 KB (per core)
Thermal Design Power (TDP)	125 Watt vs 130 Watt
Benchmarks
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s)	2.787 vs 1.028

Reasons to consider the Intel Core i7-950

4 more threads: 8 vs 4
Around 10% higher maximum core temperature: 67.9°C vs 62°C
Around 33% more L3 cache; more data can be stored in the L3 cache for quick access later
Around 2% better performance in PassMark - Single thread mark: 1379 vs 1350
Around 27% better performance in PassMark - CPU mark: 3215 vs 2536
Around 12% better performance in Geekbench 4 - Single Core: 535 vs 477
Around 32% better performance in Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core: 2092 vs 1584
4.7x better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s): 61.244 vs 13.167

Specifications (specs)
Number of threads	8 vs 4
Maximum core temperature	67.9°C vs 62°C
L3 cache	8192 KB (shared) vs 6 MB
Benchmarks
PassMark - Single thread mark	1379 vs 1350
PassMark - CPU mark	3215 vs 2536
Geekbench 4 - Single Core	535 vs 477
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core	2092 vs 1584
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s)	61.244 vs 13.167

Compare benchmarks

CPU 1: AMD Phenom II X4 975 BE
CPU 2: Intel Core i7-950

PassMark - Single thread mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

1350

1379

PassMark - CPU mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

2536

3215

Geekbench 4 - Single Core

CPU 1

CPU 2

477

535

Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core

CPU 1

CPU 2

1584

2092

CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s)

CPU 1

CPU 2

2.787

1.028

CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s)

CPU 1

CPU 2

13.167

61.244

Name	AMD Phenom II X4 975 BE	Intel Core i7-950
PassMark - Single thread mark	1350	1379
PassMark - CPU mark	2536	3215
Geekbench 4 - Single Core	477	535
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core	1584	2092
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s)	2.787	1.028
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s)	13.167	61.244
3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score		2502
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s)		0.376
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s)		1.712
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s)		5.077

Compare specifications (specs)

	AMD Phenom II X4 975 BE	Intel Core i7-950
Essentials
Architecture codename	Deneb	Bloomfield
Family	AMD Phenom
Launch date	January 2011	June 2009
OPN PIB	HDZ975FBGMBOX
OPN Tray	HDZ975FBK4DGM
Place in performance rating	2635	2639
Series	AMD Phenom II X4 Black	Legacy Intel® Core™ Processors
Vertical segment	Desktop	Desktop
Launch price (MSRP)		$290
Price now		$329.99
Processor Number		i7-950
Status		Discontinued
Value for money (0-100)		4.96
Performance
64 bit support
Base frequency	3.6 GHz	3.06 GHz
Die size	258 mm	263 mm2
L1 cache	512 KB	64 KB (per core)
L2 cache	2 MB	256 KB (per core)
L3 cache	6 MB	8192 KB (shared)
Manufacturing process technology	45 nm SOI	45 nm
Maximum core temperature	62°C	67.9°C
Maximum frequency	3.6 GHz	3.33 GHz
Number of cores	4	4
Number of threads	4	8
Transistor count	758 million	731 million
Unlocked
Bus Speed		4.8 GT/s QPI
Front-side bus (FSB)		1333 MHz
Number of QPI Links		1
VID voltage range		0.800V-1.375V
Memory
Supported memory types	DDR3	DDR3 800/1066
Max memory channels		3
Maximum memory bandwidth		25.6 GB/s
Maximum memory size		24 GB
Compatibility
Max number of CPUs in a configuration	1	1
Sockets supported	AM3	FCLGA1366
Thermal Design Power (TDP)	125 Watt	130 Watt
Low Halogen Options Available
Package Size		42.5mm x 45.0mm
Security & Reliability
Execute Disable Bit (EDB)
Intel® Trusted Execution technology (TXT)
Advanced Technologies
Enhanced Intel SpeedStep® technology
Idle States
Instruction set extensions		Intel® SSE4.2
Intel 64
Intel® AES New Instructions
Intel® Demand Based Switching
Intel® Hyper-Threading technology
Intel® Turbo Boost technology
Physical Address Extensions (PAE)		36-bit
Thermal Monitoring
Virtualization
Intel® Virtualization Technology (VT-x)
Intel® VT-x with Extended Page Tables (EPT)